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Heidi Van Horne
Photo: Ama Lea
Hair and make Up: Dr. Red
Wardrobe by: Pony Maedchen

September 2007

This month, Heidi talks tattoos, photo shop, and pin-up names. Got a question for Heidi? E-mail us! And don't forget to read Heidi's print column in Bachelor Pad Magazine



I have noticed in some of your pictures you have tattoos and others there gone. Is this done before or after the picture is taken?

Some people like to use make up on set to cover tats, others do it in photoshop. It all depends on the photographer or client. I've probably had them covered up for shoots the same amount of times I've had fake ones added for shoots! Everyone has a different POV on the tattoo issue! Some tats you see in photos are fake, and some tattoo-free images are just covered up! It all depends on the project. 
 

Are you photos photo-shopped (or some other editing program) to make your skin that clear? How do you feel about this?

I wish someone could photoshop me in real life everyday! he he he... 

Thinking of my work, I'd say most of the shots are moderately retouched. Some shots on my site are without any retouching at all (especially my own) and a few people I work with are very stylized and their concepts require lots of post work for a certain effect (the more like a painting it looks, the more work needs to be done). My skin is good, but not as good as I'd like. Could be better, but could certainly be worse. I'm sure there are a blemish or two on each shoot that can be cleared, but no major disaster-relief photoshopping needed. 

As a model, the less time a photographer has to spend clearing you up, the better (and the more they'll want to work with you!) But the truth is, the majority of images we see in magazines and on tv, etc. are very photoshopped! We, as a society, are so accustomed to that, that often when there are raw, untouched images in mags or online, we are horrified. Truth is, life has flaws. Some photographers like to find beauty in them, others want to clean it all up and make it picture perfect. My choice is a happy medium. I like to look good and no need to keep the blemishes, but certain "flaws" like scars or freckles and such are part of your beautiful individuality, and I think its tacky when people choose to gloss them over. Some shoots it works for a certain look or style, but as a rule I prefer to keep those things in. I recently shot a good friend for a clothing company, and they re-retouched my images to remove her moles! I was kind of put off. I know its a choice, but one that photographers typically make, and I don't choose to photoshop out the things that make a person who they are. But hey, that's me.  
 

Hi Heidi! 

I first want to thank you for giving your time and wisdom to us girls that want to be a little more like you! I have found your Q&A page VERY helpful in my pursuit of a pin up life. Especially since you give honest and in depth answers with no bologna!
 
My question is: What is the best way to pick a great pin up alias or stage name? And how did you pick your perrrfect name?
 
All the kittens out there have such cute or catchy names (like you!) and I can't really seam to come up with one for myself. Please give me any insight you have and tell me how a new kitten should go about picking a professional name and image. Thank you so much for your time and please keep up the great work!
 
Yours,
Veronica

Thanks, Veronica!  That means a lot to me! Yeah, I got no bologna here, lotsa cheese sometimes, but no bologna!  

And thanks for complimenting my stage name. I didn't really pick it out, per se. I used my father's name as an actress for 10 years, and always had a hard time leaving messages, and having people remember my name. I had a couple managers over the years tell me to change it,  but even then no one agreed what needed changing! One said “Heidi” would limit me to bimbo roles! Others, obviously, disliked my last name because it looked difficult. It just proved to me that it's a personal thing. You have to feel right with it. It needs to represent YOU, and no matter what you do, someone won't like it! Oh well! I spent years as an actress saying, “You can say Schwartzenegger and Zellwegger? You'll learn to say Trenbath, its not that hard.” Well, apparently it was, because immediately after starting to use my mother's last name, I started getting more auditions and more work. The fact is, if you are selling a product, the name has to fit the goods. The first time I said my name with my mom's last name, I wondered why it took me so long to figure it out!  That said, I started using Heidi Van Horne long before I started doing pinup, and long before I knew about the modern scene. If I had known then, I might not have used it, as now it seems like a cliché pinup girl name. I personally am not fond of the made up silly stage name thing. I get it if you are a secretary in Boise and don't want your online persona directly linked to your “real” life, or if you just want to do a focused thing in modeling and your name fits that, but for the average pin up gal, I think using your real name or variation of your name is best. Stay away from full real names unless you are a professional and use that for business and have P.O. Boxes and agents and stuff to keep you safer!  Many top pin up models, actually use their real names--Sabina, Masuimi, Bernie--those aren't made up!

Now, if you are dead set on using a fake name, use something that pertains to YOU.  Not just some generic gathering of pinup-friendly words!  The things You like, do, or things that look like you or your style.  What makes you unique?  Try using your real first name or family nickname as the base and build from there.  Just google it before declaring yourself that and make sure you aren't infringing on anyone's name that is already out there!   Maybe check Model Mayhem and places like that, too, to be sure you won't be flooding a market with what's already around!  You won't stand out to photographers or companies like that!

Good luck honey!  And if Veronica is your real first name, then you're off to a GREAT start!
 

Love and Pin-Ups! 
Heidi Van Horne 
www.HeidiVanHorne.com 
 
 

A little about Heidi: "I starting acting in Texas at age 13, I have worked and trained as an actress in film, TV & commercials for most of my life, as well as working behind the lens on various projects. I have been shooting my own retro pinups since late 2003, when I started doing self-shot photos (just like Bunny Yeager did!) with a self timer and a tripod in my home. Since then, I've been on the cover of 3 books ("Hot Rod Pin Ups" by David Perry and MBI Publishing, "How to Be a Dominant Diva" by Avalon Press, and the new "Modern Vixens: World of Winytiki" by Octavio Arizala and Goliath Press) as well as being featured on the cover of 3 (and inside 2 other) Pin Up Calendars for 2007, magazine covers and countless layouts, features and interviews in counter-culture publications, as well as a few mainstream mags. I've gotten to work with tons of amazing companies and photographers, including original pinup, pinup photographer & living legend, Bunny Yeager--shooting on the same beach where she and Bettie Page made Pin Up history! Living in LA pursuing my acting, I've kept myself busy on the side shooting the genre I love the most- and I'm thrilled to see how the niche has grown and grown worldwide!" 

Have a question for Heidi? E-mail us and we'll send it along to her!
 


 
 

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